Friday, November 15, 2019 – Arrived in Accra and checked into the Classic Guest House. Unwinding and preparing for my trip back to the States.
Saturday, November 16, 2019 – We visited various markets, and restaurants, i.e., the Lapaz Market, Osu Country Kitchen, Accra Art and Craft Center, Accra Mall, Baby Phat Dressmaker Shop, Timeless Restaurant, Nyamekye and the Race Course.
Sunday, November 17, 2019 – I am all packed and ready to fly back across the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, I have to purchase an additional piece of luggage, because if not, my luggage will be overweight. Either way, I will have to pay, because you are only allowed to check in two pieces of luggage at no charge.
A friend of Kwame’s, Dr. Victoria Antwi-Wilson who is the founder and leader of the Kingdom Precious Stone Ministries in Accra, came over to visit with us this morning. She is sharing with me her ministry and the program that she developed to provide resources and educational opportunities for single mothers who are struggling to take care of themselves and their children. Single mothers in Ghana are facing some of the very same challenges that single mothers in America are confronted with. Our conversation is so enlightening and we are anticipating our paths crossing again as we continue on our life’s journey.
For the remainder of the day, I am spending time relaxing and trying to upload my latest Blog, which is not working. The internet system here is very, very slow.
Monday, November 18,2019 – As I am waking up this morning, preparing for my flight back to the States, I am reflecting over the last two months and my amazing journey. Kwame calls my room to give me our itinerary for the day.
After eating breakfast, we are visiting a local market that is located in walking distance from the Classic Guest House where we are staying. We are now taking the taxi to the Accra Mall to visit the MTN phone company to change my sim card. This was a quick and easy process. We are now on our way back to the hotel to wait until it is time for me to go to the airport.
It is 4:45 pm and the taxi is here to pick me up. As we are traveling the highway to the airport, there is unusual silence. The taxi driver is pulling up to the drop-off place for me to exit the car, Kwame and I say our good-byes and he loads my luggage onto the cart. He cannot go into the terminal with me because he has to catch the taxi back to the hotel, which is approximately 30 – 50 minutes away during this time of the day because of the traffic.
I struggling to push my cart toward the door of the terminal without looking back. If I look back, I know the tears will begin to flood. As I roll my cart through the terminal, I am trying to get myself familiar with the layout and where the South African Airway check-in is located. Well, I have arrived at the SAA check-in, but they will not start check-in until 6:30 pm. My flight is not scheduled to leave until 11:20 pm. I arrived early, because anyone who has traveled internationally, knows that going through customs, etc. can be a nightmare. So, I’d rather be on the safe side and be earlier rather than later.
As I look around, I see a vacant seat where I may be able to sit and wait until the SAA check-in counter opens up. Two young men are sitting next to the vacant seat. I asked, “Is this seat available?”. They respond, “Oh yes, you may sit there”. I asked, “Where are you traveling to?” One of the young men says, “Oh, I am flying to New York.” We further introduce ourselves and exchange our names and business cards. His name is Ar-Rahman Kjeldson and he is yoga and reiki trainer, and a Thai massage therapist. As we continue to engage in conversation, this young man is a world traveler. He has spent the last two weeks in Ghana and he is sharing his amazing experience in Ghana. His tour guide, Daniel Naayang is also a former choreographer and performer with the Ghana Dance Ensemble.
Well, it’s now time for me to begin checking-in. As I getting in line to check-in, I ask one of SAA assistants about the cost of my extra piece of luggage and the pictures frames that I needed to check-in. He is telling me that each piece will cost me $200.00. Now, that means that I will have to pay $400.00 for these two extra pieces of luggage. WOW! I am thinking. I guess he sees the expression on my face. He then tells me, “You can wrap the two pieces together and it will then only cost you only $200.00.” This kind gentleman directs me to the wrapping station. I got my luggage wrapped and I am now pushing my cart to the check-in counter.
I am now back in the check-in line getting my luggage weighed. I am given a slip of paper with the recorded weights for each piece of luggage and the fee for the extra luggage. I am now directed to get out of this line and go to the cashier on the other side of the terminal to stand in another line to pay for my extra luggage. As I am standing in line, there is a gentleman standing in front of me, and he kindly ask, if I needed him to stand back for me to get to the counter? “No, I am fine, thank you.” He has a look of frustration on his face. I asked, “Where are you traveling to?” He says, he was trying to get back to South Africa, because SAA had been on strike and he was in Ghana on a business trip and had gotten delayed for three days. I was not aware that SAA had been on strike and my flight was the first flight that was flying out since the strike. Is this another divine intervention? Because I could have been caught up in the SAA strike and been delayed returning to the States.
While standing in line talking to this young man, I am learning that he is the Director of the Loveno Consulting firm in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is also a Nigerian and his parents lives in the US, where he received his college education. Also, he states that he is family lineage is from royalty, and he is Prince Eno Bassey. For me, I am beginning to think that engaging in conversations with folks who are traveling really lessens the stress that is associated with flying for me, especially traveling alone internationally.
After paying for my extra luggage, I am moving back to the line at the check-in counter. Finally checked-in. By now, it’s about 8:30 pm. Now, I am heading to Gate C-2 and going through customs.
I have arrived at my Gate C2, and now waiting to board my flight for the States.
It’s about 10:30 pm and it’s time to board the plane. As I locate my seat – 65A, there is a gentleman who is sitting in 65B and he says to me, “Hello, if 65-A is your seat, you are here”. He is so helpful by assisting me with putting my carry-on in the overhead compartment. After getting comfortably situated in my seat, we begin talking about our experiences in the Motherland. We have not officially introduced ourselves yet. However, we are beginning to dialogue about my experiences in Ghana, and his trip to Cape Town, South Africa
As we continue our conversation, I am learning that this young man was born and reared in Bermuda, and he also received his college education in the US. He loves to travel and he shares with me that he built a home in Cape Town fifteen years ago and he travels there frequently. WOW! Okay, by this time you should know, the social work in me is beginning to come out and I am asking probing, clarification and follow-up questions [lol]. As he shares his story with me, I am very impressed with his accomplishments and humility. In sharing his story, what becomes most significant to me, in spite of some life challenges that he has endured over his lifetime, he has allowed those circumstances to become a shining light to inspire and touch the lives of others who crosses his path. Ummmm. . . that sounds like someone else that I know. “Can you guess who?”
Okay, I am now getting around to introducing myself, “I am Gwen what is your name?”. “Oh, I am Maurice.” “Maurice, exactly what kind of work do you do?” “I work for a non-profit organization that assist individuals with their retirement plans. I am actually the finance person who make sure retirees funds are managed appropriately. I am also a travel agent”. “Are you kidding me?”, I ask. Maurice turns and looks at me with a puzzled look like, ‘she doesn’t believe me’. He now shares with me that he had taken a group of retired teachers to Cape Town on a tour and they are returning from an eight-day trip. They were scheduled to return three days earlier, however, their original flight was delayed because of the strike. This was the first flight they could get out of Cape Town. As a matter of fact, some of the individuals who were in his group were sitting in a few seats further to the front of the plane. “What is the name of your travel agency?” “The name of my travel agency is Two Ocean Travels & Tours. I am thinking, “this guy is not joking, he is for real”.
I am all ears at this point, because I had been discussing with Kwame the possibility of planning a trip to Ghana in 2021 for my friends, colleagues or anyone interested. I had even mentioned to Kwame that I would begin looking for a travel agent upon my return to the states.
At this point, I begin sharing with Maurice my desire to organize a tour trip for my colleagues, friends and anyone interested in going to Ghana in 2021. Maurice is very interested and says to me that he had never been to Ghana and it also somewhere he would like to visit. I ask, “What is the possibility of you and I working together on taking a group to Ghana”. He responds, “Oh, that would be great”. Now, I am finally getting around to asking, “Where do you live?” “I live in Richmond”. “OMG, this is unbelievable! With my mouth wide open, I am saying to him, “I also live in the Richmond area.” The look on his face is just as shocking as the look on my face. What are the odds that my seatmate on my return flight is a travel agent living in Richmond, Virginia? Now remember, Maurice was not originally scheduled to be on this flight. He had a three-day delay leaving South Africa. Is this another divine intervention or not?
Well, after this revelation, it’s time for us to put on our eye masks, cover with the blankets and take our nap for the remainder of our flight to Dulles Airport.
We are now about eight hours into our flight and the airline attendants are coming around to serve our breakfast. Maurice and I exchange contact information and we will be planning our tour trip to Ghana for colleagues and friends. So, stay tuned for the next adventure to Ghana.
It is now, approximately 5:00 am EST, and we are beginning to descend for the final stretch of our journey. The pilot is speaking over the intercom to let us know that there are some visibility concerns, so the auto pilot will be taking us in for landing. This is the first time that I have been on a flight and the pilot notifies us that auto pilot will be landing the plane. Again, I guess my face tells it all. Maurice calmly says, “There is nothing to be concerned about, this happens occasionally when the pilots can’t see the ground”. His tone and reassurance are making me feel better.
Within minutes, the plane is making a smooth touch down. Again, our Creator’s grace and mercy have brought me back home safe and sound. Well, we are getting ready to exit the plane, so Maurice and I say our good-byes.
After getting through customs and picking up my luggage, I am calling my son, LeDon. He informs me that he is stuck in traffic on I-95 because of an accident. My response to him, “Don’t stress it, I am fine. Take your time and I will be okay”.
As I sit and wait for my son, I am able to upload my most recent Blog in less than 10 minutes. Oh, how much we take for granted in America!! I had been trying for two days to upload my most recent Blog, and because of the slow internet in the hotel in Ghana, I couldn’t get it uploaded.
It is now 8:15 am and LeDon is pulling up at the pick-up. It is so good to see him and I think he is feeling the same. There is the ole saying that says, “Absence make the heart grow fonder”. I think there is some truth to that saying [lol].
We are now on I-95 sharing and talking about my experiences in Ghana and how everything worked out so perfectly and for my good. It was so amazing how all the events on my journey to the Motherland seemed to align with a divine purpose.
I am back home…… to God, I give all the praise, honor and glory for my journey to the Motherland and my safe return home.
I am so grateful to all of my family and friends who joined me on this divinely-led journey to Jukwa, Ghana. Medaase, Medaase!!
As I “follow the process” stay tuned for new adventures when they present themselves on my life’s pathway.
Its All Love (Odo Nkoaa)
Queen Yaa Yaa